Sewing machine



W. ENGEL March 20, 1962 SEWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 1'7, 1958 .fm e/vton' W04 FQA/VK, Ell/( 151.

W. ENGEL March 20, 1962 SEWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 17, 1958 'vyeman' 14/04 FQM/G 15/1/4154 W. ENGEL March 20, 1962 SEWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 17, 1958 March 20, 1962 w. ENGEL 3,025,812

SEWING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1958 e Sheets-Sheet 4.

W. ENGEL March 20, 1962 SEWING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 17, 1958 March 20, 1962 w. ENGEL 3,025,812

SEWING MACHINE Filed March 17, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 3,025,812 Patented Mar. 20, 1962 Fice 3,025,312 SEWING MACHINE Wolfgang Engel, Bielefeld, Germany, assignor to Anker- Phoenix Nahmaschinen Aktiengesellschaft, Bielefeld,

Germany Filed Mar. 17, 1958, Ser. No. 721,947 Claims priority, application Germany Mar. Zil, 1957 6 Claims. ((31. 112258) The present invention relates to sewing machines and is more particularly concerned with a basic machine structure which is adaptable for use in any one of a number of different specific types of sewing machines.

A large number of different types of machines are known alone for household use, for example, a straight stitch machine having a double rotation hook whose plane of rotation is disposed parallel to the direction of material feed, a straight stitch sewing machine having an oscillating catcher or hook, the plane of oscillation of which is likewise parallel to the direction of material feed, a zig-zag sewing machine having a double rotation catcher or hook which is a track catcher or spectacle frame catcher operating transversely to the direction of feed, a machine of this type provided with decorative stitching means, free-arm sewing machines and the like.

Each of these different types of machines has its own characteristic features which are considered to have particular advantages for the different customers. However, from the standpoint of the manufacturer and his production problems it involves considerable investment to produce these different machines, which to a great extent require very different structural components and assembly facilities to produce such machines and make them available for the market.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide as much as possible a single fundamental structure for the different aforementioned types of machines which makes it possible by making optional changes in the basic structure to produce the different types of sewing machines.

It is another object of the invention to provide a single basic unit which is fundamental for different types of machines and thereby render the manufacture of these different types more economical.

In order to satisfy the objects in accordance with the invention it is of primary importance that the possibility is afforded by a single unitary material carrier machine base to accommodate the different catcher or looper types, on the one hand, with the catcher shaft parallel to the arm of the machine and, on the other hand, transversely to the machine arm and to provide, in. addition, means to satisfy the required driving conditions.

Accordingly, the invention provides first of all a bearing block on the bottom of the material carrier base having three optionally usable bearing bores disposed parallel to one another. The particular driving means adapted to the different types of machines are then accommodated in these bores, in a manner that the same material carrier base can be equipped with all driving mechanism required for a sewing machine having a double rotation track or spectacle frame catcher or an oscillating catcher or hook.

In order to insure that in any event the point of the catcher assumes the correct position during the forming of the loop the journalling of the catcher shaft may be arranged by the intermediate mounting of an accentrically formed sleeve.

Providing the said bearing block additionally with a transverse bore makes it possible to utilize this transverse bore for journalling a catcher shaft with a catcher which rotates transversely of the direction of material feed. Thus one and the same material carrier base aifords the possibility of using the same for another type of sewing machine.

The type of the catcher used and particularly the position of the catcher shaft in the material carrier base necessitates a correspondingly adapted aperture for mounting the stitch plate and the sliding plate. In order to avoid the need of different embodiments of material carrier bases as a result of the foregoing considerations, it is possible in accordance with the invention to utilize an interchangeable cover plate on the carrier base. De pending on the type of catcher used, this cover plate is then provided with the aperture for the stitch plate and the sliding plate at the corresponding longitudinal or transverse edge. The longitudinal axis of this aperture or cutout in both cases is disposed parallel to the catcher shaft, and the stitch and sliding plates are recessed in corresponding grooves in the cover plate.

The material carrier base disposed below this material supporting plate, however, is provided with recesses which are adapted for the space of the two different locations of the stitch and the" sliding plate. In this manner it is made possible that one and the same material carrier base can be used for the different machine types and that it is merely necessary to interchange the cover or material support plate. Suitable fastening of this cover plate on the carrier base can be effected by providing a cutout having edges which encompass the bottom end of the standard on three sides.

The cover plate may, however, be completely eliminated while, nevertheless, using the same carrier base for the difierent machine types, if the stitch and sliding plate is provided in the carrier base in, a manner known per se, but where this stitch and sliding plate is incorporated as a corner surface which, adapted to the different positions of the catcher shaft, is disposed adjacent the longitudinal edge and the transverse edge of the material carrier base.

Further objects and details of the invention will become apparent from the following specification describing various embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a front elevation of a flat bed sewing machine of the zigzag type taken from the operators side,

FIG. 2 is a section along line IIIV in FIG. 1 looking upon the cover plate of the zigzag sewing machine,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line IIIV of FIG. 1 upon the cover plate of the machine but adapted as a straight stitch machine,

FIG. 4 is a similar View along line IIIV of FIG. 1 upon the cover plate of the machine provided with a diagonally disposed stitch plate,

FIG. 4a is a top view'of a part of the cover plate where the stitch plate is of circular shape,

FIG. 5 is a section V taken through the removable cover plate of FIG. 2,

FIG. 6 is a section VIVI taken through the removable stitch plate in FIG. 3,

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken through the diagonally arranged stitch plate of FIG. 4,

FIG. 8 is a section taken through the head end of the machine of FIG. 1 in the form of a zig-zag, fiat bed machine looking in the direction VIII,

FIG. 8a is a view of the interchangeable parts of the drive for the thread take-up and the needle bar for changing the machine from a twice rotating catcher to an oscillating catcher, or vice versa,

FIG. 9 is a top plan view upon; the arm of the machine shown in FIG. 1 adapted as zig-zag sewing machine taken along line IX-IX,

FIG. 10 is a detail View showing the optional insert fore decorative stitching,

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the material carrier plate of the machine adapted for zig-zag sewing,

FIG. 12 is a section along line XIIXII in FIG. 11 revealing the location of the bores,

FIG. 13 is a section along line XIII--XIII of FIG. 11 illustrating the feeding mechanism,

FIG. 14 is a bottom view of the base of the machine adapted as a straight stitch machine with an oscillating catcher,

FIG. 15 is a view in the direction XV upon the machine shown in FIG. 14 showing the front end of the material carrier plate in an embodiment having an oscillating catcher,

FIG. 16 is a sectional view taken along line XVI-XVI through FIG. 14 to expose the drive of the oscillating catcher,

FIG. 17 is a bottom view of the base of the machine which is adapted for straight stitching with a two rotation catcher,

FIG. 18 is a front view of the base of FIG. 17 in direction 18 with the machine adapted for straight stitching with a two rotation catcher,

FIG. 19 is a section along line XIX-XIX through FIG. 17 illustrating the drive for the catcher shaft of the catcher drive shaft,

FIG. 20 is a top view of the free arm of an embodiment of the machine as a free arm machine with the cover plate removed, and

FIG. 21 is a section along line XXI-XXI through the machine shown in FIG. 20 showing the feeding mechanism of the free arm machine.

The housing of the sewing machine comprises an arm 1 in which are mounted the mechanisms for the reciprocating movements of the machine as well as the thread take-up drive and also, when the machine is adapted for zig-zag operation, the mechanism for the lateral deflections of the needle bar, and it comprises furthermore the material carrier base 2. This base accommodates the mechanism for the material feeding and the mechanism for the catcher drive. The machine housing which comprises the arm 1 and the carrier base 2 is constructed in such a manner that it can accommodate mechanisms which diifer from one another. By exchanging mechanisms or individual parts it is, therefore, possible to execute the machine as a straight stitch machine having a hook or catcher which rotates twice for each stitch forming cycle, with the plane of rotation disposed in the direction of the material feed. It is also possible to execute this machine as a straight stitch sewing machine having an oscillating catcher, the plane of oscillation of which extends parallel to the direction of material feed. It is also possible, however, to adapt the machine as a zig-zag sewing machine having a catcher rotating twice for each stitch forming cycle and the plane of rotation of which extends transversely to the direction of material feed.

If this machine is adapted as a straight stitch sewing machine with double rotating catcher the balance wheel 4 is mounted at the right end of the arm shaft 3 which is journalled in the arm 1 (FIG. 9), and at the left end, i.e. the head of the machine arm, the arm shaft crank 5 is mounted (FIG. 8). The stud 6 is secured to the arm crank 5 on which is journalled the lower eye of the thread take-up lever 7. The upper eye of the thread take-up lever is pivotally connected with the thread lever joint 3 Which is securely mounted in the arm 1 at point 9. An eccentric boss 10 is provided at the front end of the stud 6 on which the upper eye of the needle bar link 11 is journalled, while the lower eye of the link 11 encompasses the stud 12 which is fastened to the needle bar 13. The reciprocating needle bar 13 is journalled in the needle bar support 14. At its upper end the needle bar support 14 is held by the two pointed pins 15 and 16 which are mounted in the arm 1.

With the machine adapted for straight stitching the needle bar support 14, after having been aligned in two planes with reference to the needle aperture, is rigidly secured to the arm 1 by means not shown. The presser bar 18 is mounted in the conventional manner in the head end of the machine arm 1 and carries the presser foot 19 at its lower end. The catcher drive shaft 22, which is journalled in the bores 157, 156, 159 of the carrier base 2, is driven by way of the belt pulley 20 mounted upon the arm shaft, the belt 21 and the belt pulley 23 (FIG. 17). The toothed gear 24 which is secured to the catcher drive shaft 22, engages the toothed gear 25 which is fastened to the catcher shaft 26.

The transmission ratios are arranged in such a manner that while the arm shaft 3 and the catcher drive shaft 22 make one rotation during a stitch forming cycle, the catcher shaft 26 makes two rotations. The radial distance of the point of the catcher from the center of the catcher is not the same for the different catchers which can be used. In order to safeguard that the upper position of the point of the catcher is the same for the different catchers used, the catcher shaft 26 is mounted eccentrically in the eccentric sleeve provided in bearing block 163 of the base 2. Below the catcher drive shaft 22 which extends parallel to the catcher shaft 26 a guiding groove 28 is provided for receiving the catcher ring supporting frame 29. The feed dog is likewise driven by the catcher drive shaft 22. The horizontally reciprocating movement of the feed dog 30 is derived from the cam 31. This cam is encompassed by the forked feed member 33 (FIGS. 13 and 17) which is linked to the material feed crank 34. At the other end of the forked member 33 a pin 46 is provided upon which the sliding block 36 is mounted for sliding movement in the slotted guide member 37, which is journalled in the carrier base 2. Slotted member 37 is provided with a lever 38 endwise thereof, which is linked by means of a link 39 to the stitch setting handle 40 which is journalle-d in the arm 1 at 41. Moving the stitch setting handle 40 changes the angular position of slotted member 37, and this in turn changes the magnitude of the feed as well as the direction. The feed crank 34 is secured to the feed shaft35 which is pivotally mounted between pointed pins 44 and 45 which are disposed in the carrier base 2. Pointed pin 44 is mounted in bore of the bearing block 163. In addition, the lever 47 (P16. 18) is fastened to the feed shaft 35 to which is jointed the feed block 43 which carries the material feed dog 30. The feed block 43 rests with its lower surface 42 upon the lifting cam 32 which is provided upon the catcher drive shaft 22.

The carrier base is constructed in the form of a frame which is open at the top and at the bottom. The upper opening of the base 2 is closed by the cover or material carrier plate 48 which is secured to the carrier base 2 in a manner similar to a snap fastener. It has a cutout 53 which surrounds the standard 54 of the arm 1 on all sides. The stitch plate 49 is secured to the cover plate 48 by means of screws 50 and 51. The sliding plate 57 is slida-bly mounted upon the lugs 55 and 56 of the cover plate 48. The lower opening of the material carrier base 2 is closed by the oil catch shell 61 except for the opening beneath the catcher. The oil catch shell is fastened to the base 2 in the manner of a snap fastener and has pedestals on its bottom side. The motor 53 is arranged inside the carrier base 2 and drives the belt 60 and the balance wheel 4 of the machine by Way of motor pulley 59. The machine cannot only be supported in a machine furniture structure but it can also be freely set up as a pedestal machine without a special pedestal frame being required.

If the straight stitch machine having a double rotating catcher for each stitch forming cycle is to be adapted as a straight stitch machine having an oscillating catcher or hook, the double rotating catcher on the catcher shaft 26 and the eccentric sleeve 27 must be removed. The catcher basket with its catcher race 69, the two arms 68 as well as the cylindrical member 67, is introduced with said cylindrical member into the same bore 127 of the carrier base 2 (FIG. 12) in which the eccentric or cam sleeve 27 was previously located. In the cylindrical part 67 of the catcher basket the catcher shaft 66 is located (FIG. 14). The pinion 25 is th-readedly secured upon the end of the catcher shaft 66 which projects at the right end of the cylindrical portion 67. The toothed wheel 24a which before was secured to the catcher drive shaft 22 (FIG. 17) is now journalled in the bore 128 of the carrier base 2 while maintaining the meshing with the pinion 25. The catcher drive shaft 22 as seen in FIG. 17 is exchanged for the catcher drive shaft 62 in accordance with FIG. 14 which is journalled in the same bores as the drive shaft 22. Drive shaft 62 is shorter than drive shaft 22 and carries at its left end the crank member 63. If catcher drive shaft 22 were in the form of a crank shaft it would be journalled in bores 157, 158, 159. The toothed gear 24a is connected with the crank 63 by means of link 64-. Rotation of the crank 63 thus causes oscillating motion of toother gear 24. However, this movement is transferred by way of the toothed gear 25 and drive shaft 66 to the oscillating catcher 70. The feed dog 30 now no longer obtains its raising motion from the lifting cam 32 of FIG. 17 but from the lifting cam 71 which is secured to the drive shaft.

For an oscillating catcher the guiding of the upper thread must be different than for a catcher which rotates twice for each stitch forming cycle. This is taken into account by exchanging the arm shaft crank for the arm shaft crank 72 (FIG. 8a). The stud 73 secured to this crank is disposed at such a distance from the center of the arm shaft 3 as the stud of the arm shaft crank 5. If the material feed is derived from the oscillating catcher shaft 66 the needle bar lift is suitably increased to avoid breaking of the needle when thick materials are being sewed. For this reason the distance of the stud 73 from the cam portion 74 is suitably greater than the distance of the stud 6 from the cam member in FIG. 8. Additional changes are not required.

Inasmuch as the sewing machine should also be adaptable as a zig-zag sewing machine having a catcher and whose plane of rotation extends transversely of the direction of material feed' (FIG. 8), it is necessary that the catcher drive shaft 22 or 62 (FIG. 8) be disposed beyond the plane in which the front of the needle bar 13 moves as seen from the operating side of the machine. If the machine which is adapted for straight stitching and provided with a catcher which rotates twice for each stitch forming cycle, and whose plane of rotation extends parallel to the direction of material feed, is to be adapted as a zig-zag sewing machine having a catcher rotating twice for each stitch forming cycle and whose axis of rotation extends transversely of the direction of material feed, it is necessary to remove the catcher shaft 26, the cam sleeve 27, as well as the pair of toothed wheels 24 and (FIG. 17). Instead, the catcher shaft sleeve 77 is inserted in the bore 81 of FIG. 11 in which the catcher shaft 76 is journalled which carries the catcher at its end. Between the catcher and the front end 129 of the bore 81 which faces it (FIG. 12), the worm gear 78 is secured to the catcher shaft which is in engagement with worm gear 79 which is secured to the end of the catcher drive shaft 22. The front end 129 of the bore 81 which faces the catcher is provided at-such a distance from the catcher that an oscillating catcher 70 (FIG. 14) may be mounted in the same base plate 2 with the catcher basket 69 without touching said front end 129. The transmission ratios are chosen such that, while the arm shaft 3 and the catcher drive shaft 22 make one rotation, the catcher shaft 76 makes two rotations. The support 82 is provided below the catcher shaft 76 for the purpose of mounting a catcher ring supporting frame (FIG. 8). To make it possible to use a double rotating track catcher or hook instead of a double rotating spectacle frame catcher, a support in the form of a boss 83 is provided in which the shell retainer is ac- 'cornmodated. Such a boss must also be used for straight stitch machines. When changing the bobbin of the spectacle frame catcher, the bobbin shell with the bobbin in place is inserted from the top. It is therefore suitable that the opening of the carrier base 2 extends longitudinally of the catcher shaft. This carrier base 2, therefore, is provided with a corresponding recess 164 in the area of the two different positions of the stitch and sliding plates 49, 57, 86, 87. For that reason the cover plate 48 is exchanged for the cover plate 84 (FIG. 2). This cover plate 84 has a cutout 91 which surrounds the standard 54 of the arm 1 on three sides. A further cutout 85, the longitudinal axis of which extends parallel to the shaft of the catcher, surrounds the stitch plate 86 and the sliding plate 87.

The cover plate 84 has offset or bent lugs 89 and 90 upon which the stitch plate 86 is threadedly secured by means of screws 87a and 88 and upon which the sliding plate 87 is movably disposed (FIGS. 2 and 5). FIG. 4 shows a cover plate having a stitch plate and sliding plate arrangement which makes it possible to exchange the bobbin shell and the bobbin of a spectacle frame catcher when the machine is arranged as a zigzag machine as well as also when the machine is in the form of a straight stitch machine. This arrangement illustrates a stitch plate 94 and a sliding plate 96 in the form of a flap, the opposite edges of which extend diagonally to the longitudinal axis of the machine, in particular, when seen from the operating end, from rear at the left towards the right side at the front. The two stitch plate securing screws 92 and 93 are at the same distance from the diagonal edge of the stitch plate. In this manner the stitch plate screw 93 is so far behind the vertical plane of the needle, as seen from the operating end, that it is outside the range of the catcher basket or of the catcher track 69. The stitch plate screw 92 is located so far to the right of the needle, as seen from the operating side, that the exchanging of the bobbin casing of a spectacle frame catcher is possible in connection with zig-Zag sewing machines. For supp-lying the catcher with bobbins the slide in the form of pivotally mounted flap 96 is moved upwardly about the pivot axis 97.

With this arrangement of the stitch plate 94 and the flap 96 the cover plate 95 is not exchanged when the machine is adapted as a straight stitch or zig-zag sewing machine. With this arrangement the stitch plate 94 and the flap 96 may be arranged either upon the cover plate 95 or, as shown in FIG. 7, the stitch plate 94 with the flap 96 can be mounted upon the carrier base 2. This arrangement provides the advantage that the carrier base 2 as well as the cover plate 95 can be made as a unit. A variation of the arrangement in accordance with FIG. 4 is shown in FIG. 4a. The stitch plate 98 is secured by means of the stitch plate mounting screw 99 either upon the cover plate or upon the carrier base 2. The diameter of the stitch plate 98 is made so small that the catcher of the straight stitch sewing machine embodiment as well as also the catcher of the zigzag sewing machine embodiment can be serviced. The slide 100 which is in the form of a loose plate surrounds three-fourths of the stitch plate 98 and is located partly upon the carrier base 2 and partly upon the cover plate 105. In order to locate its position the pins 101 and 102 are provided, and leaf springs 103 and 104 draw it downwardly against its support.

Inside the arm 1 bosses 106, 107 and 108 are provided as shown in FIG. 9. If the sewing machine is adapted as a straight stitch machine the bosses 106, 107 and 108 are not provided with bores. If the sewing machine is to be adapted as a zig-zag sewing machine, these bosses are suitably provided wtih bores for pins or shafts 109, 110 and 111 before the assembly begins. In that event the worm gear 112 is secured to the arm shaft 3. This is in engagement with the worm gear 113 journalled at 109 and which carries the triangular cam 114. The follower 115 cooperates with this triangular cam 114 and is journalled at 110. By means of a spring (not shown) the connecting lever 116 is arranged to resiliently engage the sliding edge 115' of the follower 115. This connecting lever 116 is pivotally connected at 120 to the needle bar driving lever 121, which in turn is secured upon the needle bar support 14 by means of screw 122. The connecting lever 116 i provided at its end with a longitudinal slot 117. This slot is engaged by a pin 118 which is secured to the manual lever 119 journalled in the bore 111 in the arm. The pair of worm gears 112, 113 is so dimensioned that for one rotation of the arm shaft the triangular cam 114 makes one-half rotation. The triangular cam 114 produces zig-zag stitches, the magnitude of which depends upon the distance of the follower point 124 of the connecting lever 116 from the point of rotation of the follower lever 115 which is controlled by means of the hand lever 11*). The machine may also be designed as a decorative stitch machine if a worm 123 is secured to the arm shaft (see FIG.

This worm meshes with the worm gear 124a which is journalled inthe bore 109 of the arm. Upon the upper front end the worm gear is provided with a cylindrical extension 126 as well as with a pin 125 disposed at a distance therefrom. The cam disk 125 has a correspond ing bore so that it can be readily placed upon the cylindrical extension 126 with the pin 125 indicating the correct position. By exchanging the cam disk 125' different decorative stitch formations are obtained.

The bosses 1%, 107 and 103 which are provided inside the arm are arranged in the proximity of the balance wheel 4. In the area above these bosses an aperture is provided in the arm which is closed by the cover 157'. At the bottom of this cover 157 the spooler, which is not illustrated, is provided, the shaft 153' of which extends from the top of the cover. The cover 157 is suitably connected to arm 1 by means of a hinge 159. A hand lever 119 extends through the longitudinal slot 161) of the cover 157'.

The sewing machine cannot only be adapted as a flat bed machine but also as a free-arm sewing machine. In that case the arm 1 with its mechanisms for driving the up and down movements of the needle is connected with its thread take-up drive and optionally with its mechanism for the zig-zag drive to the free arm 138 (see FIG. For that reason the threaded apertures 130, 131, 132 and 133 of the free arm 138 have the same position as the threaded apertures 134, 135, 136 and 137 of the material carrier base 2 (see FIG. 17).

The free-arm sewing machine has a catcher 148 rotating twice for each stitch forming cycle, the plane of rotation of which extends transversely of the material feed direction. The drive shaft 141 journailed in the free arm 138 in bores 1'62 and 162' is driven at a 1:1 ratio by the arm shaft 3 of the arm 1 by way of belt pulley 20, the belt 139, and the belt pulley 140. The toothed gear 142 is provided upon this shaft which drives the catcher drive shaft 144 at a 2:1 ratio by way of the pinion 143. At the end of the catcher drive shaft 144 which faces the catcher, the worm gear 145 is provided which drives the worm gear 146 secured to catcher shaft 147 at a 1:1 ratio. The catcher shaft 147 journalled in the free arm 138 has a catcher 148 at its end. In order to reach the catcher 143 for exchanging the bobbins a lid 149 is provided in the area of the catcher. The material feed dog drive is likewise derived by way of cams from the shaft 141 in a manner similar to that in the flat bed sewing machine.

In order to make it possible in the fiat bed sewing machine as well as in the free-arm sewing machine to use the same material feed mechanism (see 'FIGS. 13 and 17), the location of the grooved slide member 37, of the catcher drive shaft 22, as well as the advance shaft was arranged in the carrier base 2 in a position corresponding with the slide member 37 of the drive shaft 141 and of the feed shaft 151? in the free arm 138 of the freearm machine. Accordingly, the forked member 33 encompasses the feed cam 31 arranged upon the drive shaft 141. It is pivotally connected at one end with the feed crank 34 which is rigidly mounted upon the feed shaft 150 which, in turn, is journalled between pointed pins 151 and 152 and the free arm. The pointed pins 151, 152 are aligned in the bores 161, 16-2. At the other end of the forked member 33 a pin 46 is provided upon which the sliding member 36 is located, which in turn slides in the slide member 37. At the end of the cylindrical part of the slide member 37 a lever 38 is provided (see FIG. 13) which is connected by way of a link 39 with the stitch setting member 40. At the end facing the feed shaft 150 a double armed lever 153 is provided to which the material feed member 154 is connected which carries the feed dog 155. The end of the drive shaft 141 facing the catcher carries the lift cam 156 which supports the material feed dog.

1 claim:

1. A sewing machine housing adaptable for use alternately in a machine having a rotating catcher and in a machine having an oscillating catcher with the axis of the catcher disposed parallel to the longitudinal extent of the machine base, and in a machine having a rotating catcher having its axis extending transversely of the machine base, said housing comprising a base, an upper portion having a standard being supported at one end of said base, an arm extending from said standard longitudinally of the machine and supporting a head extending over a portion of said base remote from said one end, and means being provided in said base in the general area below said head and adapted to accommodate shafts of the catcher drive for the alternate uses of the machine and shafts of the material feed mechanism, said means including a plurality of bores, one of said bores extending transversely of said base and being adapted to receive the shaft of a catcher rotatable in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the machine and at least two bores extending parallel to each other and to the longitudinal extent of the machine.

2. A sewing machine housing adaptable for use alternately in a machine having a rotating catcher and in a machine having an oscillating catcher with the axis of the catcher disposed parallel to the longitudinal extent of the machine base, and in a machine having a rotating catcher having its axis extending transversely of the machine base, said housing comprising a base, an upper portion having a standard being supported at one end of said base, an arm extending from said standard longitudinally of the machine and supporting a head extending over a portion of said base remote from said one end, and means including a bearing block being provided in said base in the general area below said head and adapted to accommodate shafts of the catcher drive for the alternate uses of the machine and shafts of the material feed mechanism, said means including a plurality of bores, in said block one of said bores extending transversely of said base and being adapted to receive the shaft of a catcher rotatable transversely of the direction of material feed in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the machine and at least two bores extending parallel to each other and to the longitudinal extent of the machine.

3. A sewing machine housing adaptable for use alternately in a machine having a rotating catcher and in a machine havng an oscillating catcher with the axis of the catcher disposed parallel to the longitudinal extent of the machine base, and in a machine having a rotating catcher having its axis extending transversely of the machine base, said housing comprising a base, an upper portion having a standard being supported at one end of said base, an arm extending from said standard longitudinally of the machine and supporting a head extending over a portion of said base remote from said one end, and means being provided in said base in the general area below said head and adapted to accommodate shafts of the catcher drive for the alternate uses of the machine and shafts of the material feed mechanism, said means including a plurality of bores, one of said bores extending transversely of said base and being adapted to receive the shaft of a catcher rotatable in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the machine and at least two bores extending parallel to each other and to the longitudinal extent of the machine, said machine base being provided with an exchangeable cover plate corresponding to the type of catcher used in the machine and having a cut out for the stitch plate and the sliding cover along the associated edge thereof, the longitudinal axis of said cut out extending parallel to the associated catcher shaft, said cover plate having guiding edges receiving said stitch and sliding plates and said base having corresponding recesses adapted to receive said stitch and guiding plates.

4. A cover plate for a sewing machine as set forth in claim 3 having a cut out presenting edges enclosing the lower end of the standard of the sewing machine on three sides.

5. A sewing machine housing adaptable for use alternately in a machine having a rotating catcher and in a machine having an oscillating catcher with the axis of the catcher disposed parallel to the longitudinal extent of the machine base, and in a machine having a rotating catcher having its axis extending transversely of the machine base, said housing comprising a base, an upper portion having a standard being supported at one end of said base, an arm extending from said standard longitudinally of the machine and supporting a head extending over a portion of said base remote from said one end, and means being provided in said base in the general area below said head and adapted to accommodate shafts of the catcher drive for the alternate uses of the machine and shafts of the material feed mechanism, said means including a plurality of bores, one of said bores extending transversely of said base and being adapted to receive the shaft of a catcher 10 rota-table in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the machine and at least two bores extending parallel to each other and t0 the longitudinal extent of the machine, one of said bores having an eccentrically shaped sleeve therein adapted to receive the catcher shaft.

6. A sewing machine housing adaptable for use alternately in a machine having a rotating catcher and in a machine having an oscillating catcher with the axis of the catcher disposed parallel to the longitudinal extent of the machine base, and in a machine having a rotating catcher having its axis extending transversely of the machine base, said housing comprising a base, an upper portion having a standard being supported at one end of said base, an arm extending from said standard longitudinally of the machine and supporting a head extending over a portion of said base remote from said one end, and means including a bearing block being provided in said base in the general area below said head and adapted to accommodate shafts of the catcher drive for the alternate uses of the machine and shafts of the material feed mechanism, said means including a plurality of bores in said block, one of said bores extending transversely of said base and being adapted to receive the shaft of a catcher rotatable transversely of the direction of material feed in a vertical plane extending longitudinally of the machine and at least two bores extending parallel to each other and to the longitudinal extent of the machine, said machine base directly supporting a stitch plate and a sliding plate in a known manner and said stitch and sliding plates defining a corner surface of said base adjoining the longitudinal and the transverse edges of the base portion constituting the material carrier plate in a manner conforming to the different dispositions of the catcher shaft.

OConnor Dec. 8, 1885 Zeier Aug. 3, 1943 

